Oven vent for ranges



Oct. 2, 1951 L. F. BERG 2,569,652

OVEN VENT FOR RANGES Filed Feb. 21, 1948 /s i T Leo F. Berg.

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Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVEN VENT FOR-RANGES Leo F. Berg, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Hotpoint Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application February 21, 1948, Serial No. 9,979

'7 Claims. 1

My invention relates to cooking appliances known as ranges and more particularly to a vent construction for ovens. Most range ovens require a vent or chimney and my invention is designed to simplify and improve such vent structures.

One object of myinvention is toprovide an oven vent requiring the addition to a range of only a few simple parts. Another object is to provide a vent which requires virtually no'alteration of the generalrange structure for its installation.

A further object is to design a vent which permits normal functioning of the other parts of a range, while utilizing some of these other parts, such as surface units, oven walls, etc., in the installation and operation of the vent. Other' objects are to provide a vent structure which is readily removable for inspection, cleaning, repair,.or replacement, and one in which the parts of the vent themselves, as Well as their design, facilitate cleaning.

Other objects and the details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will be apparent from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated one example of a vent for a range embodying the present invention.

' 'In the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the top of a conventional range with my improved vent structure applied thereto; Fig. 2-is a view on a much larger scale showing in elevation and partial cross section the vent structure with associated parts ofthe range; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of certain parts of Fig. 2, with portions broken away for clarity; and Fig. 4 is an exploded The drawings show a range I having side walls 2,; a horizontal cooking top surface 3, and a back splasher l. It is'understoodthat the usual rear wall, legs or other support, and frame will also be provided as needed.

Within the range proper is an oven 5 with the usual inner wall 6 and side walls 1, with a door 8 closing the open front.

The cooking top extends to one side of the oven and above it, and is provided with heating surfaces in the form of surface. units 9. I have shown the surface units in the form of sheathed tubular electrical heating devices It mounted on a spider or grid II which in turn is supported by a trim ring I2. Each of these heating units has openings 13 between the tubular heating elements, which are in communication with a main opening I! which extends throughthe cooking top to a space 15 which is below the cooking top and alongside the oven.

The supporting ring [2 has an outwardly extending flange l6 which engages the top cooking surface around the opening E4 in order to support the heating unit above the opening. The

heating unit may be elevated or removed by lifting the ring which carries the grid and the tubular heating element.

Below the heating element is a funnel-like reflectormember I1, designed to catch and direct spillage from utensils placed on the surface unit. Thisfunnel-like reflector has an outwardly extending flange Is at its upper edge which rests on a flange is which extends inwardly from a downwardly extending ring section 20 formed from the top wall. In the center of this reflector and at its bottom is a discharge hole 2| for spillage. The reflector is removable from its flange seat after the heatin unit has been removed or lifted.

While the heating units just described, including the heating elements and their reflectors, pri marily serve as the surface heating units of the range, one of these units also functions as a necessary part of the oven venting structure in accordance with one phase of this invention. For this purpose, the right-hand rear surface unit can be regarded as a grille, and its funnel-like reflector is used to direct vapors from the oven vent. Obviously, other forms of heating units might be used to serve the purposes of this invention.

The rest of the vent structure comprises but three separate pieces which I will call a vent stack, a flue tube, and a bottom cup.

The vent stack is shown in the form of an L- shaped member 22 having a vertical tubular riser arm 23 and a horizontal inverted channelshaped arm 24. This part is preferably die cast. One end of the horizontal channel merges into the bottom end of the tubular portion as at 25, and the other end of the channel is provided with an end wall 26 with a notch or recess 27 which partially embraces the horizontal flue tube, as will be later described.

The vent stack is removably supported under the cooking top and within the open space l5 by means of structures which permit the easy insertion and withdrawal of the vent stack. I have shown a supporting wall 29 which can be called a side oven wall because it constitutes the second wall in a double-walled construction for the oven. This is fixed in place Within the range and has a pair of slots 29 shown as keyholes having their larger ends above their smaller ends. This wall is also provided with a hole through which the flue tube passes and is partially supported.

At the upper edge of the end wall on the channel portion of the flue stack are a pair of shouldered lugs 3| which are made to cooperate with the keyhole slots in the oven side wall to hold the stack removably :in proper position. '.The lower portions'of'the end wall bear against the side oven wall below the slots further to support the stack when in operative position.

The horizontal flue tube 32 is madeof suitable material, preferably metallic, and is shouldered and flanged as at 33 where it'passes through the hole 34 in the inner oven wall so that 'it may be slipped into place andi'snappedlinto fixed position. This inner end of the flue tube may be split as at 35 to provide added resiliency to aid in fixing it in place. end 3Bof'thistube extends outsideof the oven and into the space under the @cookingtopimmediately below the opening Hi whichiis Ito be used as a vent opening. :The outer-.endof the hue -tube is partly-surrounded by the: notch :27, as shown best in Fig; 3.

It will be noted that:- the open top-end of the tubular portion 23. or: the vent stack is o'f smaller diameter than the hole 2| in 'theueflector. Because i the staok'is-centrally disposed :within' this opening, an annular space-'3'! is thereby'provided between the edges of the opening 21 and the outer end ofthe tubularportion n-of the stack. It will -'also be noted that the entirestack is small enough to pass eas'ily through the'opening M in the cooking 'topafter -the -grille and funnel have "been lifted or removed and the stack has been 'disenga'ged 'from the =oven' wall.

The bottom cuporpan- 38 is' 'made preferably from resilient sheet metal :an'd -has sidemalls- 39 provided with slots 40 which cooperate with'lugs 4 I on the -vent stack to hold the cup 1 removably in place. F In order -to' make this cup easyto apply to'thebottom'of the stack, the edges of the 'sidewalls-are 'ilaredas-atAZ and fitted around the bottom of the -vertical tubularriser section, across and "below the open :c'hannel -section at this end. A shorter cross wall 43 below the channel" section "leaves an 1 open passage 4 between the horizontalchannel and the riser section of thestack'while-closing the'bottom of the riser section and-completing the shallow cup. A notch 45 is made in this wall of a depth-sufficient to allow the -end of the horizontal tube to project'over the e'dge'of the cup-even when the stack is'raised to the 'lug-disengaging'position. In fact, by-"proper selectionof dimensions, this-notch is used-to'givea proper preliminary positioning of the stack with relation to the free-end of the *horizontaltube. -"Alignment'of the lugs andkeyhole slots before moving the stack toward the oven'-wallfor engagementyis made by lifting thenotch inthe *cupup against the lower side of thetu'be and thensliding'the stack-toward the oven wall while keepingthe tube engaged in the notch.

The bottom cup*snaps on "and can "be easily pried off becauseofthe resilient side walls. "After it has been removed, the cup can-be cleaned easily, and removal of the cup leavesopen and exposes the entire channel portion and both ends of the tube portion of-the-stack-forcleaning.

Under the surface units '9 is the "usual d'rip pan-46, 'slida'bly mounted-"on suitable supports 'l, This drip pan collects spillage from the The free and open surface units and may be removed for cleaning through the front opening of the range normally closed by the drawer front 48. Spillage from the surface unit which is used as the vent grille and opening ordinarily will flow through the annular opening 3'1 around the vent stack and to the drip pan. Any unusual amount of spillage from the venting surface unit which drops into the stack will be collected "in the bottom cup 38.

.In operation of the oven, vapors will discharge through the flue tube, now through the hori- 'zontal"channel part of the vent stack and rise through the vertical tubular part of the stack.

1% the "top of .the stack, the vapors are confined inside the funnel like reflector under the surface heating-unit and pass through the openings in thegrille at the top which is formed by the heating element and its grid.

Vapors condense upon the grille if this surface unit is not heated during oven operation. However, theheater element will vaporize or burn err any deposits of moisture or--grease =when 'the surface unit is heated, thuscleaning*the=grille. Of course, if the surfaceun-it isoperated-.at the same time as the oven, vapors cannot condense on the hot surface, but -'-will be vaporized -'or burned before they can deposit.

'Itis understood that 'the=surface--units,--as 'well as the 'oven heaters -(not shown) will "be "provided with any suitable energy controlling'means, such as switches-49 of the switch bank 50.

Note that an essential part of "the 'range, namely, a surface heating'unitelement, =functions to conceal completelythe-vent structure so that it cannot be seenfromputside'the range. Furthermore, 'because'of the location of thesurface unit, vapors are kept*away 'fromthe'back of the range and therefore'cannot'stamnr .d-iscolor a wall against'which"therange mightbe mounted. In addition, and withthe surface unit and reflector panmade'removable, this'unit provides an opening through WhiChLthe vent stack may be removed.

'Another essential ,part of the. range, .thesside oven wall, is used as a.support, not.on lyfforihe removable vent staokf-but also -for..the-.horizon.tal fixed flue tube.

. Allof the.added functionsof the essential; range parts noted :above. are. accomplished --with noealteration of theusual partseof thearangewxcept fortheaddition of the holesforthefiue-tube-and the keyhole slots in :the-joven swall. .These: holes and slots provide the .neoessaryssupports.forathe added parts,- and these added-parts function avithout interference-with the :normal operation ofi'the range.

It will-also be .noted that, .-withi-the..stackiop.ening inside of the funnel-like.reflector, vaporsrca'nnot spread readily to: the open :area under zthe cooking top, where such vapors-might fginmrnp" the wires, the :bottomsof the .-reflector:pans.z and other parts of: the; surface .units orabaclrssplasher equipment which are in orzarmmdzthiszarea. sinstead, the open top of.the vent-istackrabovei'the bottom of: the funnelelike member 'will encourage good and: proper .draft: in :the :vent, =andl prevent the-undue formation of: condensate.

Although I have spoken ofxthei keyhole slots in the oven wall and the shouldered l lugs on fthe stack, it is obviousthat thesepartscouldi be reversed, and slots made-in the end=-of-the stack with-lugs on the oven- --wall. 1 However, thisconstruction would be" more ex-pensive and require greater alteration of the oven wall than the one shown; 7

Also, although I have chosen the right-hand rearsurface unit as the one through which the vent will ioperate, the location of this unit relative to the other units isnot of importance if the horizontal flue tube is kept as short as possible, and preferably straight, for'economys sake. It is known that in some ranges the surface units are directly above the oven, and in other ranges, the surface units are located on both sides of the oven on the cooking top.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of myinvention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and I'contemplate that various and other modifications and applications of the invention will suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. It is my intention, therefore, that the appended claims will cover such modifications and other applications as do not depart from the spirit and scope of my present invention. 7

What I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a range having an oven and a cooking top surface at one side of the oven with a space thereunder, said top having a vent opening therein, vent structure for said oven comprising a single, fixed, substantially horizontal flue tube extending from said oven to the space under said cooking top and terminating in a free and open end under said vent opening, a fixed vertical supporting wall for said flue tube, a removable L-shaped vent stack with its vertical arm in the form of a tube discharging below the vent opening and its horizontal arm in the form of an inverted channel communicating with the bottom of the vertical tubular arm at one end of the channel, the other end adapted to communicate removably wih the free end of the fixed flue tube, a disengageable support for said vent stack independent of said flue tube and in the form of a keyhole slot and shouldered lug connection between said vertical supporting wall and the stack, and said stack being of such a size as to be removed readily through the vent opening when disengaged from the supporting wall.

2. In a range having an oven and a cooking top surface, said top surface having an opening therein for a surface heating unit, a heating unit removably covering said opening formed to define a grille substantially filling the opening but having apertures for the passage of vapors therethrough, and a removable funnel-like member supported in said opening below said heating unit, said member having a spillage discharge hole in its bottom, a vent structure for said oven including a vent stack removably mounted under said top surface opening and of such a size as to be removable readily through said opening, a vertical tubular arm on said stack with an open top end substantially smaller in cross section than the discharge hole in said funnel-like member, the top end of said arm extending centrally through said discharge hole in spaced relation with said funnel-like member and under the heating unit grille, a fixed horizontal flue tube extending from said oven to a point below said top surface opening, a disengageable supporting structure removably holding said stack above and in communication with and independently of said flue tube, and a bottom cup closing the bottom of the vertical tubular arm of the vent stack.

3. In a range having interior walls forming an oven and an exterior cooking top surface; said top surface having a vent opening therein," vent structure for said oven comprising a single, fixed substantially horizontal open-ended flue tube supported by an oven wall and extending from said oven directly to an open free end below said cooking top surface and under said vent opening, a vent stack removably mounted with respect to said flue tube and in,- dependently thereof and under said top surface and of such a size as to be passed readily through said vent opening, a vertical tubular portion on said stack with an open top end communicating with said vent opening, and a lower end co'm municating with the free end of the flue tube, the removable mounting for said stack including a shouldered lug on said stack, said oven wall having a keyhole shaped slot' for engagement with said lug adjacent the place where said wall supports said flue tube. v a

4. A vent structure for an oven in a range having a cooking top surface above and to one side of the oven, said vent comprising a movable grille on said cooking top, said top having an opening covered by said grille when it is in one'position and uncovered by said grille when it is in another position, a fixed flue extending from said oven with a free end projecting into the area below the said opening in the said cooking top, an L-shaped stack removably positioned to communicate with the grille and opening at one end and with the free end of said flue at the other end, said stack being of such size as will pass readily through the opening when the grille is moved to uncover the opening, said stack comprising a vertical tubular arm and a hori-' zontal inverted channel arm communicating with the bottom of the tubular arm at one end, a wall closing the other end of the channel arm, said wall having a notch in its lower edge partially surrounding the free end of the flue when the stack is in operative position, and disengageable means for removably supporting said stack in its operative position independently of said flue and under said opening and in communication with said flue.

5. In a range having interior walls including a side wall forming an oven, an exterior cooking top surface, said top surface having an opening therein for a surface heating unit, a heating unit removably covering said opening formed to define a grille substantially filling the opening but having an aperture therethrough, and a removable funnel-like member supported in said opening below said heating unit, said member having a spillage discharge hole in its bottom, a vent structure for said oven including a vent stack removably mounted under said top surface opening and of such a size as to be passed readily through said opening when said heating unit is moved to uncover the opening and said funnel-like member is removed, a vertical tubular arm on said stack with an open top end substantially smaller in cross-section than the discharge hole in the funnel-like member, the top end of said tubular stack arm extending through said discharge hole in spaced relation to said funnel-like member and therethrough under the heating grille when the grille, funnellike member, and stack are in place, a horizontal flue tube fixedly supported by a side wall of the oven and extending from the oven to a point below the top surface opening, a disengageable support for said stack with cooperating elements on said stack and on said side wall of the oven, 

